Job title: Data & Analytics Manager
Job type: Contract
Emp type: Full-time
Functional Expertise: Contact Categories Contacts - Skills Job Title Position
Pay interval: Daily
Pay rate: GBP £500.00
Location: Manchester
Job published: 03/03/2026
Job ID: 91497

Job Description

 

Data and Analytics Manager

Duration: 12 Months

Rate: £500 per day

Location: Manchester & remote 

IR35 Status: Inside

Start: ASAP

 

We require an experienced and detail orientated Data & Analytics Manager to support our higher education client's analytics and compliance data reporting, with a strong focus on driving user experience through reporting and enabling narrative based insights.

You will be instrumental in designing, deploying and maintaining analytics and compliance reporting that supports their strategic objectives and enhance decision-making around people.

Leading a team of 5 data and analytic experts, this is a critical role that requires a blend of technical expertise in a deep understanding of people data, compliance reporting, People KPIs and a strong analytical mindset to drive data-informed insights using Power BI and other reporting tools.

Key Responsibilities Include:

Develop and execute a comprehensive Data, Analytics and Insights suite aligned with the organisations overall people plan and 2035 strategy.

Provide expert leadership and guidance on HR technology, data governance, and analytics best practices.

Act as a key partner to People (HR) leadership and other stakeholders on all matters related to analytics and reporting data.

Lead the design, development, and delivery of robust People reporting and analytics solutions using Power BI and other reporting platforms to inform of key decisions.

Translate complex HR data into actionable insights and compelling visualisations for various stakeholders, including senior leadership.

Oversee the creation and maintenance of HR dashboards, key performance indicators (KPIs), and predictive models.

Drive continuous improvement in data quality, data governance, and data literacy across HR.

Drive data integrity to ensure confidence in people data.

Create and maintain a data governance framework to ensure data integrity, quality, security and appropriate usage and compliance is monitored.

Ensure compliance with the General Data Protection Regulations, Freedom of Information requests and Subject Access Request statutory requirements.

Statutory & External Reporting

Delivery of statutory returns including the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) staff return, ONS, Office for Students, and UCEA.

Produce People data to support Reward Management processes.

Understand and produce data to support the external accreditations (e.g., Stonewall, Athena SWAN).

Work with the Directorate on Gender, Ethnicity, Disability and intersectionality Pay Gap and Equal Pay reporting.

Govern the reporting, in relation to People data for Freedom of Information (FOI) requests.

Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of People Systems professionals.

Foster a collaborative and innovative team environment that promotes continuous learning and professional growth.

Build and maintain partnership with key internal stakeholders IT, Planning and Finance to oversee the ongoing management and maintenance of analytical and reporting suite

Manage expectations with key stakeholders on delivery of analytics and reports.

Support the People Services Team in troubleshooting issues and resolving data discrepancies

Develop and ensure the governance of the people systems including handling change requests

Build and maintain strong working relationships with and external stakeholders to benchmark working practices.

Effectively communicate complex technical and data concepts to non-technical audiences.

Act as a champion for the effective use of HR systems and data.

To lead and manage people data projects from inception to completion, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards including testing of data.

As the Data & Analytics Manager you will possess the following:

Essential Skills and Experience:

Previous experience of HESA and knowledge of REF (Research Excellence Framework)

Proven expertise in Power BI, including data modelling, dashboard design, report development, and advanced analytics and insights.

Strong understanding of HR processes and data flows across the employee lifecycle.

Demonstrable experience in leading and developing a team of technical and analytical professionals.

Excellent data governance principles and practices, with a strong understanding of GDPR and other relevant data protection legislation.

Proven ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions and deliver tangible business value

Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.

Outstanding communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills, with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels.

Strong project management skills, with a track record of successful project delivery.

Desirable Skills and Experience:

Any experience of ResourceLink or any Oracle, SAP or Workday  experience would be nice to have

Knowledge of higher education sector-specific HR reporting requirements (e.g., HESA, ONS).

Experience with other business intelligence tools or data warehousing concepts.

 

If this role is of interest please email your CV to: joanne.stanley@certes.co.uk